So far, we’ve had a more normal summer than the last couple of years with hot, dry days and scattered pop-up storms. The usual, brown, slow growing grass is to be expected and that semi-dormant grass will recover. We’ve already seen the emergence of some disease on several lawns.
There seems to be very little permanent damage, and these brown spots will grow themselves out. Follow our watering guide below to prevent these unsightly areas from developing. Here are a few lawn care tips as this summer rolls on…
WEED CONTROL – You might have noticed that your lawn and garden are seeing more weeds than usual. All a weed needs are soil and moisture to thrive and the longer you neglect them, the faster they will spread. Now is the time for application of a non-residual, safe, summer annual weed control.
INSECTS – Spotted Lanternfly are here, and the ticks and mosquito populations are also extremely high! If these pests are bugging you, contact us right away. We can spray your trees and shrubs and eliminate these dangerous and damaging insects from your property.
MUSHROOMS – The last few weeks have seen perfect weather for growing mushrooms in your lawn and landscape beds. Lots of rain, hot days and cooler nights mean they can sprout up anytime. They don’t do any harm to your grass, flowers or plants so there is no treatment necessary. Just wait for a dry sunny day to burn them away. If they are an annoyance, you can also brush them away with a broom or rake.
GREENSKEEPER’s LAWN WATERING GUIDE
The total amount of water you apply to your lawn will be the difference between the acceptable requirement and the amount mother nature supplies, so make sure to keep an eye on the forecast! We’ve already had a couple of dry stretches this year so be sure to follow these rules.
- HOW MUCH?Long, deep soakings are best! A healthy maintained lawn needs at least 1-1½ inches of water per week to penetrate the roots and keep it dense and attractive. One hour, once a week is a good guide. A good way to determine how much water the lawn is getting while watering is to place empty tuna cans at varying distances from your sprinkler and note how long it takes to fill the can with 1”of water.
- HOW OFTEN? Water ordinary grasses deeply once or twice per week, if needed. Deep, less frequent watering encourages deep roots and improves drought tolerance. Watering too often can create an over saturated lawn that will be susceptible to more bugs, mildew and disease as well as the unpleasant appearance of weeds and crabgrass leading to extra lawn maintenance in the long run.
- WHEN? It is most effective to water your lawn in morning hours between 5-10am when the water will most successfully disperse into the soil and be taken in by your grass. This early morning drink of water given before the peak heat can hurry evaporation will allow for the lawn to absorb as much as possible before the day’s activity truly begins. Watering at night is not recommended as the water will sit on the soil too long creating a breeding ground for insects, weeds, mildew and disease.
- WAIT, WHAT? Please note that the sprinkler systems we come across are almost always set up wrong, so please double check. Watering for 10-20 minutes, every other day in the dark is asking for trouble because it creates the perfect environment for disease. Scheduling the system to operate during daylight hours for 30-40-minutes every 4-5 days is perfect.
Greenskeeper Can Help You Achieve a Luscious, Green Lawn
Greenskeeper Professional Lawn Care offers a variety of lawn care services for every season. Whether you require specialized treatment for a stubborn lawn care issue or need assistance maintaining your lawn all year long, our team of experienced professionals can help. We have been caring for Pennsylvania properties for more than 50 years and would love to bring our expert services to your lawn.
